This time around, I decided to tear down the top. After the relatively limited work required to rehabilitate it from ten years of sitting in a backyard, it hasn't skipped a beat with nearly 40k on the motor.Another episode of the 1976 Harley Davidson Ironhead Sportster Chopper Build Saga. I love mine, and I rescued it from a flood. In fact, for the home mechanic, a Sportster is much easier to deal with than the relatively complex SV, and their usable lifespans are similar.

I BELIEVE I could handle the basic maintenance. So i figure parts must be inexpensive (?). There are a kagillion of them around. But I read about these people who keep old sportsters going for hundreds of thousands of miles, and the IDEA of sticking it out with one motorcycle like that really appeals to me.

The Harley-Davidson Ironhead motor is the main reason for the enduring success of the Sportster. (What would it be? EVery 50k miles? More?) I realize it is a big leap to go from doing regular service work on a ninja to rebuilding a v-twin, but how big a leap? If I got one of these things and did all or most of the work on it myself would it be relatively inexpensive to maintain or are we talking about a money pit?Ironhead Motor Specifications. I assume that because these Harleys have air cooled engines they are doing rebuilds to keep them going so long. What scars me are the rebuilds.

My '72 CH was stroked to 77 inches, and with the hot cams, head work, and bigger carb, ran like a scalded dog. You can stroke the engine and take it up in size. There's really not enough meat in the cylinder walls to achieve any practical increase by boring. Thanks.RE: Boring and stroking a 1000cc Ironhead. VW GTI VW RABBIT VW GOLF VW R32 MK5, MKV, MK6, MK7, MK8, MK9, MK10 Forum / Community MK2 VR6 SWAP First Test Drive Pt.10.I will probably wind up with a sensible 'modern' motorcycle like a versys or a v-strom, but I just wanted to consider this possibility.

Air cooling, belt drive, single carb, hydraulic valve lash adjustment, gear driven cams. You will not have to rebuild the entire motor for a very, very long time unless you buy a lemon or spend your time drag racing it on weekends.Maintenance wise, they are among the least demanding of any bike. These are torquey, understressed motors, even when hopped up a bit. You do not have to worry about the things that stymie most top end jobs for beginners (resetting timing, draining and refilling coolant, messing with dodgy twin-carb assemblies and airboxes, etc).The bottom ends on these motors are very well built and can take a great deal of punishment.

It feels nothing like a Sportster. After the relatively limited work required to rehabilitate it from ten years of sitting in a backyard, it hasn't skipped a beat with nearly 40k on the motor.I had an EX500 for a while. In fact, for the home mechanic, a Sportster is much easier to deal with than the relatively complex SV, and their usable lifespans are similar.I love mine, and I rescued it from a flood. I like SV650s alot and in fact would like to own one, but they're really no more practical than a Sportster unless HP numbers are a concern.

I tried everything (ISO grips, lead in the handlebars, even had the crankshaft balanced), but the only thing to fix it was to keep it out of that RPM range. Above 65 and the buzz would put my hands to sleep. Everything is much more accessible and modification-friendly.By all accounts a responsibly ridden Sportster can go 100k (or more) between top ends.Having owned both Sportsters (96 and currently an 06), I can say the vibe's are utter hell on the interstate on the rigid mount versions.

You just gotta like a smaller cruiser. Now it's smooth, really smooth, and with the 1200cc conversion I just did the perfect combo.With the right windshield and handlebar combo the Sportster can be an excellent touring bike. Then I swapped out the 1200 gearing into the primary (38T sprocket and a 98 link chain) that really smoothed things out up top. Mirrors were all over the place. Since the bike was an 88CI there was still plenty of torque to make it move.Now with the 06, originally as an 883 with the 34T front primary sprocket the interstate was a little buzzy above 70.

So i figure parts must be inexpensive (?). There are a kagillion of them around. But I read about these people who keep old sportsters going for hundreds of thousands of miles, and the IDEA of sticking it out with one motorcycle like that really appeals to me. Any bike is for that matter, just don't ignore maintenance.I am not a Harley person. I'm not a big guy, nor insecure, so I love my Sportster.It's simple to keep a Harley running for the long run.

I assume that because these Harleys have air cooled engines they are doing rebuilds to keep them going so long. What scars me are the rebuilds. Though I don't have a lot of mechanical experience, I've done valve adjustments, swing arm service , and lots of other things to my ninja.

Ironhead Sportster Forum